Building a Strong Foundation: Greenhills Volleyball Team Growing and Winning Together

It’s about halfway through the girls volleyball season, and Greenhills’ varsity team is hitting its stride with a team full of young players, a program built around development, and a coach who is as focused on mindset as she is on mechanics.

“You have to believe in the process,” said Head Coach Tiffany Willard. “We know we can win games, but we want to help these athletes grow into confident players who trust themselves and each other.”

That mindset is woven through every aspect of the program. The Gryphons have demonstrated they can play at a high-level—like they did in a five-set battle with Austin Catholic that ended 16–14 in the final set—but Willard says the biggest victories aren’t always visible on the scoreboard.

“This is a brand-new team in a lot of ways,” she said. “We graduated nine seniors last year. A few returners are now stepping into completely new roles, playing all the way around for the first time, and we’ve brought up younger players who are still building their confidence. They’re all working so hard, and they want to continue to improve.”

To support that growth, Willard and the rest of the coaching staff have been intentional, not only in how they structure practices and lineups, but in how they build team culture. The volleyball program kept a three-team structure this year—two JV teams and a varsity team—to prioritize playing time and development.

“We’ve seen so much growth already in the first six weeks,” Willard said. “They’re getting game-time experience, while also building their belief in themselves.”

That belief starts with the brain. Visualization exercises. Snap-back routines. Mindset check-ins. Affirmations stated as facts—not goals. These are as integral to their practices as serving and blocking.

“Some of the younger players were afraid to make mistakes,” Willard said. “So we talk about what triggers them, what helps them reset. We literally practice mental routines in timeouts. We’re trying to help them be comfortable taking risks and being vulnerable with each other, which aren’t just volleyball skills, they’re life skills.”

This focus on connection extends beyond the court. Willard implemented “buddy” partnerships at the start of the season, sending players in pairs to meaningful locations around campus to share stories and learn about each other. She’s seen it pay off in the way the team communicates and supports one another during play.

“Volleyball demands that chemistry,” Willard said. “You can have all the skill in the world, but without energy and connection, you won’t get very far. The best teams are the loudest, the most supportive, the most connected. That’s what we’re working toward.”

The team is currently 3-1 in Catholic High School League (CHSL) play and 6-5 overall. With nine games left to play this season—including another four CHSL matchups—Willard is energized.

“The girls are bought in. The coaches are bought in. We’ve got a team that’s growing together in every way,” she said. “And if this group keeps trending the way they are, we’ll be playing our best volleyball when it matters most.”

The end-of-season results will come. For now, Willard is most excited to keep watching her players stretch, grow, and come together.

“They have the skill,” she said, “and day by day we’re helping them realize and believe in that. I can already see it taking hold.”